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African Ensemble Band Performing at the Africa Week Gala

When I look back on my time at Dartmouth, and it is hard to believe I will be graduating in just two weeks, I know that Africa Week will always stand out as one of the moments when this campus felt most alive, most joyful, and most like home.

What is Africa Week?

Africa Week is an annual celebration organized by the Dartmouth African Students Association (DASA) each spring. It features a week-long series of events designed to honor the incredible diversity of the African continent and its diaspora. The week is about culture, community, and legacy. Just as important, it is about joy. For students of African descent, it offers a chance to share where we come from. For the entire Dartmouth community, it provides an opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate together.​​

Students Interacting During the Africa Week Gala
Students Interacting During the Africa Week Gala

Africa Week also connects to a broader history. It honors Africa Day, formerly known as African Freedom Day and later African Liberation Day, which commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity on May 25, 1963, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This was a pivotal moment in the fight for decolonization and pan-African solidarity. It serves as a reminder of the continent's journey toward unity, liberation, and shared progress. Here at Dartmouth, that same spirit of unity and pride is woven throughout the week.

Each year, DASA selects a theme that reflects how we, Africans, see ourselves and how we want to share our cultures with the wider Dartmouth community. This year's theme was Ìwé Ìfé: A Love Letter to Our Continent. From start to finish, the week truly embodied that message.

This Year's Africa Week: Spring 2025

We kicked off on Sunday afternoon with the Opening Ceremony at Occom Commons. The room was filled with the rich aromas of home-cooked food because if you are African or have met an African, you know where we gather, food is always involved. Dishes ranged from jollof rice and fried plantains to hearty stews and rice dishes. Students had prepared food from their home countries, and the spread was incredible. Plates were piled high as everyone lingered around the tables, talking, laughing, and savoring each bite. Alongside the food, several students gave short presentations about the projects, nonprofits, research, and ventures they are leading that connect to the continent. It was inspiring to hear about the breadth of Africa-centered work being done in the community. I left that afternoon reminded that Africa Week is not only about celebration but also about vision and impact.

Karaoke and Spoken Word Night

On Monday night, the energy shifted to One Wheelock for Karaoke and Spoken Word Night. The vibe in the room was electric. Some students brought the crowd to its feet singing Afrobeats hits like Tems' "Burning" and Burna Boy's "For My Hand." Others performed soulful R&B ballads, while several brave and gifted poets shared moving original pieces. Between performances, people grabbed plates of Caribbean dishes from The Karibbean, which included Jamaican patties, jerk chicken, rice and beans, and samosas. Everyone clapped for their friends and cheered loudly after every act. What stood out to me most was that it did not matter whether someone was a seasoned performer or singing off-key. The entire room celebrated them.

Sip and Paint Event From Last Year's Africa Week
Sip and Paint Event From Last Year's Africa Week
Art of Our Continent Sip and Paint Event

Midweek, we gathered in the Shabazz Mural Room for Arts of Our Continent, an African iconography sip and paint event. Afro-soul music played in the background while students painted, tie-dyed shirts, and enjoyed good food and even better company. The room had a creative, collaborative energy. Students moved between tables, admiring each other's work and chatting with friends. It was a relaxed space where people could express themselves freely and connect across backgrounds.

Scenes from last year's Africa Week Barbecue and Field Games
Scenes from last year's Africa Week Barbecue and Field Games, where students enjoyed football, sack races, tug of war, and plenty of braai and suya fresh off the grill.
Champions of Our Continent Barbecue

By Friday, the excitement had reached a new level. The Champions of Our Continent Barbecue on the Shabazz Lawn drew a big crowd. Friends spread out on the grass, plates piled high with barbecue, as students from across campus gathered to hang out and enjoy the sunny afternoon. Later, everyone headed to Garipay Fields for a football match. The game featured East and Southern Africa in white jerseys versus West, North, and Central Africa in black. Students showed up proudly representing their regions. The match was competitive and fun. Players of all skill levels joined in, while others coached, refereed, or cheered from the sidelines. The atmosphere was one of friendly rivalry and shared pride.

African Students sharing a table in Collis Common Ground at the 2025 Africa Week Gala
African Students sharing a table in Collis Common Ground at the 2025 Africa Week Gala
The Gala

Finally, Saturday night arrived. We gathered for the Gala, A Night of Love and Legacy, at Collis Common Ground. This is the event everyone talks about all year, and this year's Gala did not disappoint. Collis was beautifully transformed with lights, decorations, and music. Students arrived in stunning cultural attire and formal wear, taking photos with friends as they entered. The program featured an incredible lineup of performances. Students sang, danced, performed spoken word, and showcased both traditional and contemporary cultural pieces. The energy in the room was contagious. Each performance felt like a personal love letter to heritage and community. I remember sitting with my friends, feeling proud of what this week represented and deeply moved by how much heart and effort had gone into it. The night ended with everyone dancing to Afrobeats, celebrating not only our cultures but also the friendships we had built.

To Prospective Students:

Me (far right) and my friend Justine (middle) at the 2025 Africa Week Gala
Me (far right) and my friend Justine (middle) at the 2025 Africa Week Gala

For me, Africa Week was a beautiful way to close out my time at Dartmouth. It reminded me that even though sometimes academics and daily routines matter in college, what matters most are the communities we create and the spaces where we can be our full selves. In a place like Dartmouth, where students come from every corner of the world, Africa Week is one of those spaces. It is a week where we see each other, where we celebrate one another, and where we remember that home is not just a place. It is people, it is pride, and it is shared joy.

To any prospective student reading this, know that at Dartmouth you will find spaces like this, where your voice matters, where your culture is celebrated, and where community is real. As I prepare to graduate, I know that Africa Week, and the friendships and memories it created, will stay with me long after I leave Hanover. I already look forward to returning as an alum to see how future students will continue to grow this beautiful tradition.

If you want to learn more beyond what this post covers, feel free to explore the following resource:

Dartmouth African Students Association (DASA) on Instagram

Previous Africa Week Websites: 2023 website2024 website, 2025 website

Previous Africa Week Coverage by The Dartmouth2023 coverage2024 coverage, 2025 coverage

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